Blindness, But Not HMHA Anosmia, Predicts Loneliness: A Psychophysical Study

Olfactory deficits can play a detrimental role in everyday social functioning. Perception of 3-hydroxy-3-methylhexanoic acid (HMHA)—a body odor component—could also be linked to this research area. However, no study so far has addressed the problem of HMHA perception in the context of the previously reported relationship between olfactory abilities and social difficulties. Here, we tested whether HMHA-specific anosmia predicted loneliness understood both as a cognitive evaluation of social participation and as one’s social isolation, and we additionally analyzed the effects and correlates of HMHA perception in relation to sightedness. The study comprised 196 people, of whom 99 were blind. We found that subjects with blindness declared particularly high loneliness, but HMHA anosmia and the interaction of sightedness and HMHA anosmia predicted neither loneliness nor social withdrawal. In addition, HMHA pleasantness was positively associated with social withdrawal of the subjects with blindness and emotional loneliness correlated with HMHA familiarity regardless of sightedness.

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Evaluating an Interpersonal Model of Depression Among Adults With Down Syndrome

Research and Theory for Nursing Practice ◽

10.1891/rtnp.20.3.229 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 20 (3) ◽

pp. 229-246 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Sarah H. Ailey ◽

Arlene M. Miller ◽

Tamar Heller ◽

Everett V. Smith

Keyword(s):

Down Syndrome ◽

Social Withdrawal ◽

Well Being ◽

Two Dimensions ◽

Depression Treatment ◽

Social And Emotional ◽

Emotional Loneliness ◽

Human Relatedness ◽

Interpersonal Model ◽

The Relationship

The Interpersonal Model of Depression (IMD) based on the Theory of Human Relatedness (Hagerty, Lynch-Sauer, Patusky, & Bouwsema, 1993) is evaluated among adults with Down syndrome. One hundred subjects participated, with 32% having elevated depression scores and 40% stating they felt lonely. The relationship between depression, perceived social support, loneliness, and life satisfaction is statistically significant, F(6, 172) = 4.36, p < .001. Loneliness, social isolation, loss of sense of well-being, self-hate, and social withdrawal are important interpersonal manifestations and represent increasing levels of depression. Social and emotional loneliness are two dimensions of loneliness. The IMD provides a framework to assess depression in this population. Research on the efficacy of depression treatment based on the IMD is needed.

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Social Isolation Experienced by Youth in Social Withdrawal: Toward an Interdisciplinary Analysis and Practice

Social Isolation - An Interdisciplinary View ◽

10.5772/intechopen.86503 ◽

2020 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Victor Wong ◽

John Yuen ◽

Xuebing Su ◽

Jolene Yung

Keyword(s):

Social Isolation ◽

Social Withdrawal

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Loneliness and Mental Health During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Study Among Dutch Older Adults

The Journals of Gerontology Series B ◽

10.1093/geronb/gbaa111 ◽

2020 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Theo G van Tilburg ◽

Stephanie Steinmetz ◽

Elske Stolte ◽

Henriëtte van der Roest ◽

Daniel H de Vries

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Social Isolation ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Well Being ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Social And Emotional ◽

Emotional Loneliness ◽

Consequent Reduction ◽

Policy Measures

Abstract Objectives With the spread of COVID-19, the Netherlands implemented a policy to keep citizens physically distanced. We hypothesize that consequent reduction in the frequency of social contacts, personal losses, and the experience of general threats in society reduced well-being. Methods Data were collected from 1,679 Dutch community-dwelling participants aged 65–102 years comprising a longitudinal online panel. Social and emotional loneliness and mental health were measured in May 2020, that is, 2 months after the implementation of the measures, and earlier in October and November 2019. Results In this pandemic, the loneliness of older people increased, but mental health remained roughly stable. The policy measures for physical distancing did not cause much social isolation but personal losses, worries about the pandemic, and a decline in trust in societal institutions were associated with increased mental health problems and especially emotional loneliness. Discussion The consequences of long-term social isolation and well-being must be closely monitored.

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Domestic Violence During the COVID-19 Confinement: Do Victims Feel more Socially Isolated?

10.21203/rs.3.rs-858145/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Sabine Drieskens ◽

Elise Braekman ◽

Karin De Ridder ◽

Lydia Gisle ◽

Rana Charafeddine ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Social Support ◽

Domestic Violence ◽

Social Isolation ◽

Help Seeking ◽

Health Care Services ◽

Adult Population ◽

Snowball Sampling ◽

Emotional Loneliness ◽

Help Seeking Behaviour ◽

Socially Isolated

Abstract Background Since March 13th 2020, confinement measures have been introduced in Belgium to curb the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19). These measures also have an impact on people’s daily life (closure of school/businesses, teleworking, recommendation to stay at home…). This can cause stress on social, economic and psychological levels and thereby can trigger domestic violence. Besides, confinement also fosters social isolation, which can complicate help seeking behaviour. The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of domestic violence during the coronavirus crisis and to assess whether victims of domestic violence experienced more social isolation than nonvictims. Methods Several online COVID-19 health surveys were organised among Belgian residents aged 18 + via snowball sampling. This study is based on the second (April 2020) and the sixth survey (March 2021). After excluding 1-person households and missing data, the sample size was respectively 25,251 and 12,589. Weighted prevalence of domestic violence was evaluated for the two surveys. The association (OR (95% CI)) between domestic violence and subjective social isolation was assessed with logistic regression stratified by survey, adjusted for covariates and taking post-stratification weights into account. Results In April 2020, 4.0% of the adult population reported being a victim of domestic violence (1.2% in the health interview survey 2018); in March 2021, this was 6.2%. In April 2020, victims of domestic violence had a higher odds of perceived weak social support (2.23 (1.76–2.82)) and of having less confidence in health care services (1.78 (1.21–2.63)). In March 2021, victims had a higher odds of perceived weak social support (1.98 (1.27–3.09)), but also of being unsatisfied with their social contacts (1.81 (1.16–2.84)) and of perceived social (2.70 (1.77–4.13)) and emotional loneliness (2.40 (1.45–3.97)). Conclusions Compared to 2018, more people reported domestic violence since the coronavirus crisis. Victims of domestic violence feel more often socially isolated. Although confinement is needed to counteract the virus, it can put people in a dangerous situation since they do not get the help they need. Therefore, adequate support is essential.

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Impact of Educational Qualification on Social Support, Social Isolation and Social and Emotional Loneliness: A Study of Senior Citizens

Peshawar Journal of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences (PJPBS) ◽

10.32879/picp.2018.4.2.153 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 4 (2) ◽

pp. 153-170

Author(s):

Salma Naz Gul ◽

Rabia Chishti ◽

Maher Bano

Keyword(s):

Social Support ◽

Social Isolation ◽

Rural Areas ◽

Positive Impact ◽

Senior Citizens ◽

Sampling Technique ◽

Educational Qualification ◽

Social And Emotional ◽

Emotional Loneliness ◽

The Impact

The present study aims to investigate the impact of educational qualification on social support, social isolation, and loneliness (social and emotional) among Senior Citizens. De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale (1985),Social Support Scale developed by Malik (2002), and Friendship Scale developed by Hawthorne (2006) were used to measure the pertinent constructs of present study. Purposive convenient sampling technique was used to draw the sample of older adults (N = 500) aged 60 to 90 years (M = 67.59, SD = 7.54) from both urban and rural areas of various districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. Alpha coefficients, for all the variables were computed, which ranged between .60 for social loneliness to .96 for social support total scale. Study found significant differences among the variables. Findings revealed that educational qualification of the sample had a positive impact on their social support and they were less socially isolated as compared to uneducated senior citizens.

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Schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, obsessive–compulsive disorder, and personality disorder

Oxford Textbook of Medicine ◽

10.1093/med/9780199204854.003.260507 ◽

2010 ◽

pp. 5324-5328

Author(s):

Stephen Lawrie

Keyword(s):

Bipolar Disorder ◽

Personality Disorder ◽

Social Isolation ◽

Negative Symptoms ◽

Social Withdrawal ◽

Positive Symptoms ◽

Everyday Experience ◽

Obsessive Compulsive ◽

Compulsive Disorder ◽

Flat Affect

Schizophrenia—is characterized by phenomena that qualitatively differ from everyday experience. These may be ‘positive symptoms’, commonly auditory hallucinations and/or bizarre delusions, or ‘negative symptoms’, commonly including a loss of emotion (flat affect), apathy, self-neglect, and social withdrawal. Acute positive symptoms generally respond well to any antipsychotic drug, but prognosis is often poor, with most suffering chronic symptoms, numerous relapses, unemployment, and social isolation....

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Hikikomori goes global: A Portuguese case

European Psychiatry ◽

10.1016/j.eurpsy.2017.01.670 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 41 (S1) ◽

pp. S514-S514 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

P. Macedo ◽

V. Pimenta ◽

M. Alves ◽

A. San Roman Uria ◽

H. Salgado

Keyword(s):

Social Isolation ◽

Social Withdrawal ◽

Economic Consequences ◽

Psychotic Symptoms ◽

Prodromal Phase ◽

Bond Behavior ◽

Psychotherapeutic Approach ◽

Mental Diseases ◽

The World ◽

Competing Interest

IntroductionHikikomori, a form of severe social isolation, once characterized as a Japanese cultural-bond behavior with social and economic consequences, it is now being described in other countries. Its presentation mimics some clinical features of various classified mental diseases, such as prodromal phase of schizophrenia, personality disorders, Internet dependence, social phobia or depression, without fulfilling their defining criteria.Objectives/methodThis work aimed to do a brief review of this subject, describing one case that is probably the first ever reported in Portugal, comparing it with similar cases around the world.ResultsThe patient was a 22-year-old male, taken to psychiatry evaluation after 4 years of social withdrawal, avoiding or blocking any contact even with family members, which resulted in work and school impairment. He spent most of his days locked at his room, investing his time in particular interests and Internet use, only leaving to eat or do his basic hygiene. At that time, he presented no affective or psychotic symptoms and perceived his behavior as egosintonic. After six appointments with psychotherapeutic approach, he was able to get a job and improved his communication with the others, especially with family.Discussion/conclusionThis case fits most of the reports found on literature, in its presentation and clinical management. Hikikomori is not considered yet a disorder and further documentation of these cases is still needed to define its place in psychiatric nosology.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

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From musk to body odor: decoding olfaction through genetic variation

10.1101/2021.04.27.441177 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Bingjie Li ◽

Marissa L. Kamarck ◽

Qianqian Peng ◽

Fei-Ling Lim ◽

Andreas Keller ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Activity Patterns ◽

Ethnically Diverse ◽

Gene Repertoire ◽

Body Odor ◽

Odor Perception ◽

Olfactory Coding ◽

Specific Anosmia ◽

Genome Wide ◽

Human Body Odor ◽

Multiple Receptor

The olfactory system combines input from multiple receptor types to represent odor information, but there are few explicit examples relating olfactory receptor (OR) activity patterns to odor perception. To uncover these relationships, we performed genome-wide scans on odor-perception phenotypes for ten odors in 1003 Han Chinese and validated results for six of these odors in an ethnically diverse population (n=364). In both populations, we replicated three previously reported associations (β-ionone/OR5A, androstenone/OR7D4, cis-3-hexen-1-ol/OR2J3 LD-band), suggesting that olfactory phenotype/genotype studies are robust across populations. Two novel associations between an OR and odor perception contribute to our understanding of olfactory coding. First, we found a SNP in OR51B2 that associated with trans-3-methyl-2-hexenoic acid, a key component of human underarm odor. Second, we found two linked SNPs associated with the musk Galaxolide in a novel musk receptor, OR4D6, which is also the first OR shown to drive specific anosmia to a musk compound. We also found that the derived alleles of the SNPs reportedly associated with odor perception tend to reduce odor intensity, supporting the hypothesis that the primate olfactory gene repertoire has degenerated over time. This study provides information about coding for human body odor, and gives us insight into broader mechanisms of olfactory coding, such as how differential OR activation can converge on a similar percept.

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Social withdrawal and suicide risk: A descriptive study

European Psychiatry ◽

10.1016/j.eurpsy.2016.01.372 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 33 (S1) ◽

pp. S175-S175 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

A. Malagon ◽

D. Córcoles ◽

E. Pérez ◽

L. Mollà ◽

D. Bergé ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Child Abuse ◽

Social Isolation ◽

Suicidal Behavior ◽

Suicide Risk ◽

Suicide Attempts ◽

Social Withdrawal ◽

Small Sample Size ◽

Age At Onset ◽

Small Sample ◽

Major Health Problem

IntroductionSocial withdrawal is a major health problem that has been related with higher morbidity and mortality rates. There are few studies about the relationship between suicidal behavior and social isolation.AimTo describe the existence of suicidal risk in subjects with social isolation.MethodParticipants were 187 subjects referred to a Crisis Resolution Home Treatment because of social isolation. The inclusion criteria were: home isolation, avoiding of social situations and relationships, for at least 6 months. Suicide risk was assessed by the item of the Severity of Psychiatric Illness, dividing in four groups (from absence to high suicide risk). Socio-demographic and clinical data were also analysed.ResultsMost cases (n = 132, 70.5%) had absence of suicide risk. They were predominantly young males in all groups. There were no statistically significant differences in sociodemographic or clinical variables. The mean age at onset of social isolation was lower in the high suicide risk group, having lower socially withdrawn period. This group had also lower rates of child abuse and suicide attempt history. The more frequent diagnosis in all groups was psychotic, affective and anxiety disorders. Those cases with mild and high suicide risk needed more frequently hospitalization.ConclusionsSocial isolated people attended by CRHT do not have high frequency of suicide risk. Cases with higher suicide risk are younger and have a shorter period of isolation. The absence of child abuse history or previous suicide attempts contrasts with previous suicidal behavior research. These data can be influenced by the characteristics of functioning of CRHT and the small sample size.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

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